Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and HaldiaCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Haldia
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $419 in Haldia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $660 in Haldia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $901 in Haldia.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 201% more expensive than Haldia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Haldia69% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$3.21₹306
42.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$11.72₹1,115
297.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$4.80₹456
76.46%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$1.78₹169
70.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$0.40₹38.40
72.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$0.13₹12.19
184.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$1.71₹163
45.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$2.34₹223
56.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$0.63₹60.2
246.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$0.40₹37.88
375.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$0.68₹64.3
223.53%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$1.02₹97.3
117.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$4.55₹432
339.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$2.97₹283
23.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$2.44₹232
32.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$0.85₹80.6
100.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$1.27₹121
88.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$0.66₹62.3
215.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$0.40₹38.28
297.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$0.56₹53.0
164.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$0.42₹39.94
145.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.33₹31.69
57.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$3.86₹367
10.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$8.56₹814
119.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$1.64₹156
7.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$2.49₹237
10.84%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$7.50₹713
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$0.28₹26.59
385.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
$8.57₹815
32.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$0.60₹56.9
423.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$0.28₹26.47
271.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$2.06₹196
568.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$1.23₹117
8.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$11.8K₹1.1M
134.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$21.7K₹2.1M
56.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$42.34₹4,027
191.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$3.96₹377
241.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$7.29₹693
156.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
$15.72₹1,495
293.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
$6.85₹652
151.82%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$4.10₹390
122.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$43.89₹4,174
1500.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$1,606₹152.8K
888.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$28.65₹2,725
107.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$30.15₹2,868
16.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$47.33₹4,501
143.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$31.63₹3,008
165.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$122₹11.6K
406.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$74.8₹7,118
478.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$271₹25.8K
660.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$179₹17.0K
745.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
$1,052₹100.0K
246.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
$441₹42.0K
494.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Haldia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
$430₹40.9K
17.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.9
-46.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Haldia: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $122 in Haldia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 18% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $12.00 in Haldia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $110 per month, with Haldia cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Phuket vs Haldia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Haldia?
Phuket and Haldia differ by about 201% in total monthly costs ($1,261 vs $419 including rent). Haldia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Phuket or Haldia?
Phuket pays 18% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Haldia?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $122 in Haldia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Haldia?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $419 in Haldia – a 201% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Haldia?
A monthly transit pass in Haldia runs roughly 33% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $419 in Haldia versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Haldia but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Haldia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Haldia?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Haldia safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Haldia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Haldia?
Expats usually find Haldia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 201% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.